Rotor blade for a wind turbine

ABSTRACT

A rotor blade of a wind power installation in which the rotor blade, in particular in the central region of the rotor, the so-called main board, has a lift-drag ratio which in the region of about ±2° from the optimum pitch angle has a lift-drag ratio value of more than 80%, preferably 90% and more of the maximum value of the lift-drag ratio.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/504,118, filed Aug. 14, 2006, now pending, which is acontinuation-in-part of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2005/050585 filed Feb.10, 2005, which claims priority to German Application No. 10 2004 007487.9, filed Feb. 13, 2004, where these applications are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure concerns a rotor blade of a wind powerinstallation and a wind power installation comprising a rotor havingsuch rotor blades.

2. Description of the Related Art

The performance of a wind power installation and in particular theefficiency thereof is determined to a not inconsiderable degree by therotor blades or the rotor blade design. The rotor blades are describedby a large number of parameters, in which respect attention is directedat this juncture generally as state of the art to the book by Erich Hau,Windkraftanlagen, 3rd edition, 2002, in particular pages 90 ff thereof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned the operational efficiency and also the regulatingperformance of wind power installations are governed to a notinconsiderable extent by the aerodynamic properties of the rotor bladeprofiles used. An important parameter of a rotor blade profile ischaracterized by the ratio of the lift coefficient c_(a) and dragcoefficient c_(w):

$\frac{C_{a}}{C_{w}} = E$wherein E is referred to as the lift-drag ratio.

In addition an important parameter of a rotor blade is the high-speedfactor λ wherein the high-speed factor is defined by the quotient of theperipheral speed (u) of the tip of the rotor blade and the wind speed v.

FIG. 1 shows the known afflux flow conditions and the air forces at theprofile cross-section of a blade element.

If the profiles of known rotor blades are investigated, a particularrelationship between the lift-drag ratio and the pitch angle isestablished. More specifically it is found that the lift-drag ratio isgreatly dependent on the respective pitch angle and typically a highlift-drag ratio is achieved only in a quite limited pitch angle range.Thus for example a high lift-drag ratio can be achieved if the pitchangle (of a rotor blade) is in the region of 6° and at the same timehowever the lift-drag ratio falls severely as soon as the pitch angleslightly rises above or falls below the region of 6°.

If the value leaves the region of the optimum lift-drag ratio, that isto say the pitch angle is markedly different from the optimum pitchangle, for example 6°, it can be easily seen that the overall efficiencyof the installation is less with the consequence that the wind powerinstallation will have a tendency either to set the pitch angle to theoptimum values again, for example by pitch control, and/or to set theentire rotor into the wind in the optimum relationship by orientation ofthe pod.

The size of the rotors of wind power installations have steadilyincreased in recent years and swept rotor areas of 10,000 square metersare in the meantime no longer theory but have become practice, forexample in the case of a wind power installation of type E112 fromEnercon. That involves a wind power installation whose rotor diameter isabout 112 m.

It is now in practice impossible to achieve the optimum of the lift-dragratio over all regions of the rotor blade because, with the very largeswept area, it is no longer possible to assume that the wind is alwaysflowing against the rotor blade from the same direction and always atthe same speed.

The consequence of this is that in some regions the rotor blade orblades admittedly operate in a relatively optimum manner but in someother regions the rotor blades rather operate in sub-optimum manner byvirtue of the different nature of the afflux flow profile in the sweptrotor area. That results directly from the very close dependency of thelift-drag ratio on the afflux angle and the consequence of this is thatthe loads on the rotor blade can fluctuate in an extreme fashion becausethe lift (c_(a)) of the rotor blade is also approximately proportionalto the lift-drag ratio.

It will be appreciated that, as a way of improving the above-indicatedproblems and to avoid the disadvantages thereof, it is possible toalways find an optimum setting by suitable pitch control of the rotorblades or by virtue of yaw of the entire rotor. It will be readilyapparent to the man skilled in the art however that, with that concept,the rotor blades must in practice be constantly set into the wind (thatis to say must be pitched) and/or the azimuth drives must alsoconstantly freshly orient the rotor without that substantially improvingthe situation.

In one embodiment, a rotor blade of a wind power installation in whichthe rotor blade, in particular in the central region of the rotor, theso-called main board, has a lift-drag ratio which in the region of about±2° from the optimum pitch angle has a lift-drag ratio value of morethan 80%, preferably 90% and more of the maximum value of the lift-dragratio. In one embodiment, the characteristic curve of the lift-dragratio is of a configuration in dependence on the pitch angle as shown inFIG. 2.

In one embodiment, a rotor blade having a tip or a tip end plate whichrises out of the plane of the rotor blade in the manner of a winglet,wherein said end plate is turned about the thread axis in its centralplane by about 4 to 8°, preferably 4 to 6°, particularly preferablyabout 5°.

In one embodiment, a rotor blade of a wind power installation comprisesa rotor blade attachment region, a main board coupled to the rotor bladeattachment region and configured to have a lift-drag ratio in a regionof approximately ±2° from an optimum pitch angle of more than 80% of amaximum value of the lift-drag ratio, and a tip region coupled to themain board. In one embodiment, the lift drag ratio of the main board inthe region of approximately ±2° from the optimum pitch angle is morethan 90% of the maximum value of the lift-drag ratio. In one embodiment,a portion of the tip region rises out of a plane of the rotor blade andis turned about a thread axis in a central plane by approximately 4 to 8degrees. In one embodiment, the portion of the tip is turned about thethread axis in the central plane by 4 to 6 degrees. In one embodiment,the portion of the tip is turned about the thread axis in the centralplane by approximately 5 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the known afflux flow conditions and the air forces at theprofile cross-section of a blade element.

FIG. 2 is a graphical illustration of the variation of the liftcoefficient or the lift-drag ratio on the one hand relative to the pitchangle.

FIG. 3 a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotor blade tip.

FIG. 3 b shows a side view of an embodiment of a rotor blade tip.

FIG. 3 c shows a plan view of an embodiment of a rotor blade tip.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a main board of a rotor blade.

FIG. 5 is another view of the embodiment of a main board of a rotorblade illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is another view of the embodiment of a main board of a rotorblade illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is another view of the embodiment of a main board of a rotorblade illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is another view of the embodiment of a main board of a rotorblade illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a rotor blade incorporating the embodimentof a main board illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 shows a first cross-section of the embodiment of a main boardillustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 shows a second cross-section of the embodiment of a main boardillustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 12 shows a third cross-section of the embodiment of a main boardillustrated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One of the properties of the rotor blade design according to anembodiment of the invention is that the lift-drag ratio remainsvirtually high over a quite large pitch angle range, but in that respectthe highest value in respect of the lift-drag ratio now remains behindthe optimum of the previous lift-drag ratio from the state of the art.Expressed in other terms, the lift-drag ratio of the rotor bladeaccording to an embodiment of the invention, with optimum setting of thepitch angle is—at a maximum—lower than in the state of the art, but atthe same time a departure from the optimum setting does not immediatelylead to a substantial reduction in the lift-drag ratio and the liftcoefficient and thus a loss of lift, but deviations which are in therange of for example ±0.5 to 3° from the optimum setting angle do notlead to the substantial reduction in the lift-drag ratio and thus thereduction in lift with the consequence that the overall blade efficiencyis improved. That also achieves a markedly better distribution of loadand a markedly low fluctuation in load (ΔL/dt). As can be seen from FIG.2 the ‘saddle’ of the lift-drag ratio curve of the rotor blade accordingto an embodiment of the invention in the range between 4 and 8° pitchangle is markedly wider than in the case of a known rotor blade.

The claimed design configuration of the rotor blade is to be found inparticular in the central third of the rotor blade, that is to say inthe main board of the rotor blade. That is the region which is betweenthe rotor blade attachment region or rotor blade root region on the onehand and the tip region, that is to say the outer end region, of therotor blade.

FIG. 2 shows the variation in the lift coefficient or the lift-dragratio on the one hand relative to the pitch angle. In particular thecurve diagrams relative to the pitch angle show that, in the case of astandard rotor blade, the lift-drag ratio reaches its absolute maximumwhich is at about 170 in the region of the pitch angle of about 6°. Thelift-drag ratio already falls severely upon a departure from the pitchangle of 6° by 1°, that is to say either to 7° or 5°, and in particulartowards higher pitch angles the lift-drag ratio is already halved whenthe pitch angle assumes a value of about 9°. Towards lower pitch anglesthere is also a very sharp drop which however is not quite as steep aswhen the pitch angle differs towards higher pitch angles.

The variation in the lift-drag ratio in the case of a rotor bladeaccording to an embodiment of the invention can also be seen in thediagram. The maximum is once again pronounced in the region of the pitchangle of about 6° and that maximum is below the maximum of the lift-dragratio in the case of a standard rotor blade. It will be noted howeverthat the ‘saddle’ of the optimum is now markedly wider as can be seenfrom the intersecting curves and when for example the pitch angle is inthe range of 4 to 8°, that is to say ±2° from the optimum pitch angle of6°, the lift-drag ratio is reduced only by about 10% from its optimumvalue. In the region of about 4.5° to −4° on the one hand and in theregion of about 7° to 16° the lift-drag ratio is above the lift-dragratio curve for a known rotor blade.

As can also be seen the configuration of the rotor blade according to anembodiment of the invention overall improves the lift coefficient of theentire rotor blade, which is accompanied by an increase in efficiency ofabout 15% of the rotor blade.

In particular the load fluctuations are also now no longer as great ashitherto and, with any very small change in the pitch angle, there is noneed to effect at the same time corresponding measures to re-set thepitch angle to the desired optimum value, in the present example 6°.

FIG. 3 shows various views of a rotor blade tip, that is to say a rotorblade end portion. FIG. 3 a shows a perspective view of a rotor bladetip, FIG. 3 b shows a side view and FIG. 3 c shows a plan view.

That rotor blade tip is also usually referred to as an edge arc. It canbe seen from FIG. 3 a that the edge arc is illustrated with threeprofile sections and the thread axis.

The three different illustrations make it possible to show the rotationof the profile of the edge arc about the thread axis. In that respectthe illustrated rotation is greater in terms of magnitude than thenumber of degrees specified in the description in order for reasons ofillustration to make the representation in the illustration in thedrawing perceptible at all to some degree.

It should be particularly emphasized once again at this juncture thatthe configuration according to an embodiment of the invention of therotor blade concerns in particular the central portion, that is to saythe so-called main board, that is to say the region which is between therotor blade root region and the tip region. The main board can also bedescribed generally as the ‘central third’ of a rotor blade, in whichrespect the specific dimensions over the main board can differ therefromand the main board for example can also occupy approximately up to 60%of the rotor blade length.

Additionally or independently of the aforementioned configuration of therotor blade, a further improvement can also be achieved—see FIGS. 3 a to3 c —if the rotor blade tip, that is to say the tip end portion, isrotated in a given region around the thread axis, for example throughabout 4 to 8°, preferably about 5°, around the thread axis (twist). Thetwist is then in a neutral afflux angle, that is to say the tip itselfaffords no contribution to lift. A typical configuration of a tip or acorresponding tip end section is known from the above-mentioned book byErich Hau, page 126 (FIG. 535).

In accordance with the general school of thought the dimensioning loadsof a rotor blade are calculated as the product of the square of the windspeed, the rotor blade area and the lift coefficient. Expressed as aformula thedimensioning load=v ₂ ×A×c _(A),wherein the rotor area A is used to denote the area which the rotorcovers (sweeps).

This in consideration of the textbooks is quite rough and does notalways correspond to reality. The greatest load of a rotor blade doesnot act thereon in normal operation but when a so-calledonce-in-50-years gust ‘catches’ the rotor blade from the side. In thatcase the gust acts on precisely the entire rotor blade surface. In thatrespect it can be seen straightaway that the lift coefficient c_(A)plays no part, rather the resistance coefficient c_(W) would beconsidered here. The resistance coefficient however is always constantfor that more or less flat rotor blade surface for, if the wind impingeson a blade, then it impinges precisely on a board. That situation,namely full lateral afflux flow, is the worst-case situation in whichthe greatest load for which the rotor blade must be dimensioned,precisely a dimensioning load, occurs.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, with a constant resistancecoefficient, it is simply and solely the area of the rotor blade that iscrucial. That is also the reason for the slenderest possibleconfiguration of the rotor blades.

It is however known that the power output of a wind power installationcrucially depends on the length of the rotor blades. Therefore longslender blades are hitherto to be preferred to wide short blades. Itwill be noted however that the point is not to be overlooked in thatrespect that this consideration does not apply to the blade inner region(main board) as here the situation is fundamentally different.

Finally the relative speed of the rotor blade relative to the airflowing therearound in the region of the blade root is the lowest andrises continuously towards the blade tip. Therefore the rotor bladeshape of an embodiment described herein with the narrow outer region andthe optimized lift-drag ratio is a particularly advantageous solution.

FIGS. 4-8 illustrates an embodiment of a main board 400 of a rotor bladein accordance with the present disclosure. Three cross-sections 402,404, 406 of the main board 400 are illustrated in FIGS. 4-8 ascontrasting lines. FIG. 9 illustrates a rotor blade 900 incorporatingthe embodiment of a main board 400 illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 10illustrates an embodiment of a cross section 406 of the rotor blade 400illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of anothercross section 404 of the rotor blade 400 illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 12illustrates an embodiment of another cross section 402 of the rotorblade 400 illustrated in FIG. 4. In one embodiment, the cross section402 is located at a radius of 23.075 meters on the rotor blade and has adepth of 1.923 meters with a blade setting angle (See FIG. 1) of 2.5degrees and a relative thickness of 17.65%, the cross-section 404 islocated at a radius of 14.2 meters and has a depth of 2.373 meters witha blade setting angle of 8.65 degrees and a relative thickness of 28%,and the cross-section 406 is located at a radius of 5.325 meters and hasa depth of 3.904 meters with a blade setting angle of 28.55 degrees anda relative thickness of 36.77%.

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entirety.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A pitchable wind power installation rotorblade comprising: a wind power installation rotor blade tip or a windpower installation rotor blade tip end plate which rises out of a planeof the pitchable wind power installation rotor blade in a manner of awinglet; a rotor blade root region; and a rotor blade central regionbetween the rotor blade root region and the wind power installationrotor blade tip or wind power installation rotor blade tip end plate,wherein said wind power installation rotor blade tip or wind powerinstallation rotor blade tip end plate is turned about a thread axis inits central plane by 4 to 8 degrees.
 2. The wind power installationrotor blade of claim 1 wherein said wind power installation rotor bladetip or wind power installation rotor blade tip end plate is turned aboutthe thread axis in the central plane by 4 to 6 degrees.
 3. The windpower installation rotor blade of claim 1 wherein said wind powerinstallation rotor blade tip or wind power installation rotor blade tipend plate is turned about the thread axis in the central plane byapproximately 5 degrees.
 4. The wind power installation rotor blade ofclaim 1 wherein the wind power installation rotor blade tip or windpower installation rotor blade tip end plate affords no contribution tolift of the rotor blade.
 5. A method of manufacturing a pitchable windpower installation rotor blade of a wind power installation, the methodcomprising: defining a wind power installation rotor blade tip portionor wind power installation rotor blade tip end plate, a rotor blade rootregion, and a wind power installation rotor blade central portionbetween the rotor blade root region and the wind power installationrotor blade tip portion or the wind power installation rotor blade tipend plate; configuring the wind power installation rotor blade tipportion or wind power installation rotor blade tip end plate to rise outof a plane of the pitchable wind power installation rotor blade in amanner of a winglet, wherein said wind power installation rotor bladetip portion or wind power installation rotor blade tip end plate isturned about a thread axis in its central plane by 4 to 8 degrees; andcoupling together the wind power installation rotor blade tip portion orwind power installation rotor blade tip end plate, the rotor blade rootregion, and the wind power installation rotor blade central portion. 6.The method of claim 5 wherein the wind power installation rotor bladetip portion or wind power installation rotor blade tip end plate isturned about the thread axis in the central plane by 4 to 6 degrees. 7.The method of claim 5 wherein the wind power installation rotor bladetip portion or wind power installation rotor blade tip end plate isturned about the thread axis in the central plane by approximately 5degrees.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the wind power installationrotor blade tip or wind power installation rotor blade tip end plateaffords no contribution to lift of the rotor blade.